The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston
Frederick Fife has hit the jackpot. After losing his wife and his apartment, Fred now has a warm place to live and 3 nutritious meals a day. He has friends and a reason to get up in the morning. But can he live with his conscience after being mistaken for Bernard Greer and taking his spot at the Wattle River Nursing home?
While trying to figure out a way to get out of his strange predicament, Frederick discovers friendship with Albert, a brother he never had and Hannah, a daughter that he and his wife had always wanted but couldn’t have.
Frederick Fife is a wonderful man, cheerful and wanting to make the world a better place. He makes a difference in the life of each person he meets.
Grief is written about in a line in the book: “Grief was love with nowhere to go. “ Frederick finds love after having lost the love of his life, and this new community helps him confront his grief and reconnect to life again. In sharing his joy and love, Frederick and his fellow residents find value in life and living to the fullest.
#netgalley

Good old Fred has run out of time and options. He's about to be evicted from his apartment and he has no family since the death of his wife several years prior to the start of the novel. Fred wanders off towards the river where he sees a man in a wheelchair too close to the water and Fred rushes, as much as an 82 yo man can, to save the fellow. The old man, Ben, is dead but in trying to save him Fred launches him into the river, falls over a rock and knocks himself out. Ben was with a group home and Fred bears such an uncanny resemblance to him that the nurses just bundle him back into the wheelchair and take Fred who is now Ben with them.
What a delightfully hilarious start to a love story about growing old and making connections. Of course the Fred as Ben charade can't last forever but while it does little miracles occur. My reason for the 4/5 rating is unnecessary length while Fred reminiscing about his late wife, what would she say, what would she do, etc. Tell us once, dear author, then move it along. Thank two NG for the advance copy.

Everyone needs a Fred in their life. Everyone. If you loved A Man Called Ove, you will love this one.

This was a heartwarming story. I would definitely recommend for fans of A Man Called Ove and even Only Murders In The Building! I love stories like these that focus on second chances and it never being too late to take hold of opportunities you would have thought passed you by at this point in life.

This is a sweet and uplifting story about a man that gets a second chance at life. Fred lost his wife and has no family. He lives alone and doesn’t have much to look forward to. He rents a small house and can barely afford it. At the age of 85 he gets the rare chance to live in a retirement home when the nurses mistake him for a resident. Fred quickly adjusts to living in luxury and making friends.

I thought this book was sweet. If you are looking for a feel good story then you will probably like it.

Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! Frederick Fife is a character that will live in my heart for a long time. As will truly every character in this book. If there were more Frekericks in the world, we would all be better for it! Highly recommend!

Mistaken identity between Bernard and Fred changes Fred’s life. Set at a nursing home really provides a different aspect of aging. This book has a warm happy ending and was very good. Not many books are written about the homeless or old people so this was a good change in plots.

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston

Fred is lovable, kind, funny and everything you want your older main character to be. I went in blind — which was fun — and suggest you do the same. It’s light, heartfelt, earnest and far from trite. It has a few surprise twists and turns and actually deals with some heavy subjects sandwiched between the lighthearted life of Fred.

A Man Called Ove is very high on my list of all time favs and while this did not have the same level of humor (IMHO), it is definitely in that same vein — we obviously need more books that honor the older generation. Here, we love our Octogenarian Main Character, love the dream-fulfillment of knowing an older person with so much joy amid life’s inevitable trials and love rooting for him to find the thing he didn’t know he needed.

I adore audio books but in this case, I definitely preferred the print version. Fred’s voice in my head was a tad less melodramatic than the narrator and I liked him much more. It would be a great pallet cleanser after a long or difficult book.

Thank you to @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks for the arc of this lovely book!

4.5 stars

You may have seen a lot of love for this book around Bookstagram and for good reason. The Borrowed Life is a heartwarming debut about Frederick, a lonely old man who gets caught up in a case of mistaken identity which allows him a second chance at finding a family.

If this book is not on your TBR it should be. Frederick is a character that is funny, caring, adventurous and one that I won’t soon forget. The friendships that he makes will absolutely warm your spirit and tug at your heartstrings. I laughed, I cried and in the end I know this is a book that will stay with me and reminds me why I love reading so much!

I adore this book! It made me laugh, made me cry, and appreciate the relationships that I have in my family and these characters either had or desperately wanted to.
Set primarily in an Australian nursing home, as the story started I wondered how I would relate to the main character, Fred. A lot actually: love and loss, memories, and friendship.

Anna Johnston's The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife is a captivating novel that explores the complexities of human relationships, the importance of forgiveness, and the enduring power of love. Johnston's writing is both lyrical and evocative, drawing readers into the heart of the story.

The novel follows the life of Frederick Fife, a young man who finds himself living a borrowed life after a tragic accident. As he navigates the complexities of his new reality, Frederick must confront the secrets of his past and the challenges of his present. Johnston skillfully delves into the depths of Frederick's emotions, offering a raw and honest portrayal of the human experience.

The supporting characters are equally compelling, adding depth and complexity to the story. Frederick's friendship with the enigmatic Mr. Thorne is particularly poignant, exploring the power of human connection and the importance of forgiveness. The novel also delves into the complexities of family dynamics and the enduring power of love.

Widowed 82-year-old Frederick Fife has a heart full of gold but an empty bank account and no home after spending all of his money trying to save his wife from her cancer diagnosis. Just when he's out of options, he finds himself in a unique situation of mistaken identity as a nursing home resident, Bernard Greer. Fred goes from lonely and isolated to the heart of his nursing home in this tale of love, loss, and found family.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit overall. While it resembled the story of "A Man Called Ove," it held its own as a unique story. Many times within the book, the plot felt almost too real in the character's painful memories and experiences, but the author did a nice job of balancing this with humor and heart. The story felt long at times, but the ending was lovely. I think it's worth a read!

I started reading the e-book copy courtesy of NetGalley but then switched to audio format through my Spotify subscription. The narration was excellent.

Fredrick is such a lovable character and pulls you in. While the story line isn’t exactly realistic, it does make you connect and root for Fredrick!

Oh, where do I even begin? I’m such a sucker for a grumpy cinnamon roll character, and Frederick Fife is exactly that. At 82 years old, he was such a light and the heart of this beautiful, heart-wrenching, life-affirming story about finding joy in the family you create.

The story begins when Frederick, mistaken for a man named Bernard at a nursing home, repeatedly tries to explain that he’s not Bernard. But the staff dismiss his protests as confusion from dementia. Surprisingly, Frederick sees this mix-up as a solution to his problems—after all, he was nearly homeless and painfully lonely before. As he seamlessly steps into Bernard’s life, we’re taken on a touching journey of redemption, forgiveness, and second chances.

The book felt like a blend of 𝑨 𝑴𝒂𝒏 𝑪𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝑶𝒗𝒆, 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑵𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑼𝒑!—a perfect mix of emotional depth and heartwarming moments. Be aware, though, that it touches on some heavy topics. Although the author handles these topics with sensitivity, I would recommend checking the trigger warnings below before diving in.

🚫TW: grief, dementia, social isolation, miscarriage, infertility, cancer, and addiction.

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston tells the zany story of how Fred becomes Bernard Greer in the local nursing home. This book was a delight to read! Fred is such a wonderful character. You can’t help but love him. How he ends up in the nursing home is quite bizarre. A very entertaining read with a great cast of characters. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The charming story of an elderly gentleman finding a family when he least expects it. Frederick Fife is a widower with no children and no home. His life is turned upside down when talking a stroll by the river one afternoon, and nothing will ever be the same for him again. Fife unwillingly takes on the identity of a deceased inhabitant of a local nursing home, finding comfort in a warm bed and three meals a day. As time goes on he befriends others in the home and even meets the estranged daughter of his doppelganger. I loved this sweet story of redemption and found family that reminds the reader that it's never too late to make a positive impact on the world and people around you. Highly recommended!

What a great book. Fun, funny and so much more.

Who does not love a book about an older person that is kind, loving, smiles and cares for others? This great guy seems lonely and lost in his old age. Life takes an odd turn and he inherits a whole new family and that is exactly what he needed. People to care for that also care for him. This story had me laughing out loud often, so fun.

The other interesting part of the story - when you try to tell the truth and no one listens - can you just give up and go with the flow if it helps you and hurts no one else? At what point do you again have to try telling the truth? The whole time Fred is helping and loving those around him. So is it wrong? Read this wonderful book to find out about Fred!!!

Thank you to Net Galley and Williams Morrow for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was an enjoyable read with a wonderful and heartwarming story that stayed with me. We meet Frederick Fife - he's 82 on the verge of being evicted, basically no money or pension, and lonely and sad. He had a beautiful life filled with heartbreak and love but life looks very uncertain at the moment. Until he meets Bernard Greer, a grumpy old man who is on an outing with his nursing home. It is Frederick's good heart and kindness that gets him caught up in being mistaken for Bernard and then decides to go along with the mistaken identity as he finds a good life at the nursing home with basic comforts, friends and a purpose for his life. He also uncovers Bernard's painful family history and Frederick thinks he may be able to do some good along the way. Five stars - I loved this one!

What a sweet book.
I love a story featuring an older person such as the Thursday Murder Club series and How to Die Disgracefully.
This book had the same feel good feeling. Likeable characters and a happy ending.

I received this e-book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for the copy!

Frederick Fife was such a sweet and nice character! I found myself laughing and crying right along. If you loved A Man Named Ove, I think you would LOVE this one just as much!! Although Ove and Frederick are not the same, where Ove was a grumpy old man from the start.... Frederick was a sweet old man and continued to show us how sweet he was throughout the story.